Tamiami International Orchid Festival - Expired Event

The Tamiami International Orchid Festival, a major orchid event now in its eleventh year, is coming to the Fuchs Pavilion at the Miami-Dade County Fair & Expo Center(10901 Coral Way) on January 26th and 27th 2013. The Festival has become far and away the largest orchid event of the season and hence is billed as South Floridas Winter Orchid Extravaganza. Truly national and international in scope, the Tamiami International Festival brings together fifty growers from the US and around the world. Orchidists from Taiwan and the Philippines will join growers from Brazil, Jamaica, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru as well as local and national growers. Many of these leading orchid nurseries have never before exhibited in South Florida and will be offering the public new varieties of orchid species and hybrids not previously available here.

Even more exciting and totally new for South Florida, cash prizes will be offered for the Grand Champion and Reserve Champion orchid plants. One thousand dollars will be given to the exhibitor of the plant judged finest in the show (and hence in Florida) and $500 will be awarded to the exhibitor of the runner up. The competition is open to all orchid growers but entry must be made on Friday between 12 noon and 5:00 PM. The public will be able to see the finest orchids in Florida for the duration of the show.

The Tamiami Festival is a community based event with the sponsorship of the not for profit Greater Miami Orchid Festivals, and with participation by Orchid Society of Coral Gables, the South Dade Amateur Orchid Society, East Everglades Orchid Society, the American Orchid Societys Florida Caribbean Judging Center, the Coalition on Orchid Species and Orchid Mania(the childrens AIDS charity), all of whom will be contributing to the staffing of the event and sharing in its success. An overwhelming majority of local and state commercial orchid growers will also be exhibiting and vending. The event is intended to bring the entire orchid community of South Florida together.

Staged exhibits will be mounted by both commercial and amateur groups. The latter will, in a unique feature, be competing for cash prizes for the best exhibits. Both individual plants and exhibits will be eligible for ribbons, trophies and the much coveted American Orchid Society awards. The public is also invited to bring plants for exhibit and judging on Friday, between 12 and 5 PM.

Orchid theme arts and crafts will be offered for sale as well as a full range of supplies, materials and tools for all the orchid growers needs.

Lectures by internationally renowned experts on culture and botany as well as growing classes for amateurs and more advanced hobbyists will be presented. Local orchid societies will be there during the entire show to recruit new members and to help the public with their orchid related problems.

Miamis first orchid event of the year will be not only the first but the biggest and best!
Plan to be there! Take either the 8th Street or Bird Road exits of the Fla. Turnpike and follow the signs about a mile and a half to the Fair Expo Center. The Festival is also easily accessed from the Palmetto Expressway (826) at Coral Way. Proceed West to 109 Ave.